Vancouver shooting victim recalls fearing he would die

A Vancouver convenience-store employee who was shot in the leg earlier this month says he feared he would not survive the attack.

Mohammad Ali was working an early-morning shift at H & Z Market, at Main Street and East 16th Avenue, on Sept. 6 when a man entered and asked to speak with the manager. Ali was sitting behind the counter and said he initially did not realize the object concealed under the man’s coat was a gun.

Ali told CTV News he heard a loud shot and felt as though the store had collapsed on him. He said he saw a large amount of blood, struggled to reach a phone and called 911 to say that he had been shot and believed he was dying.

The wound remains painful, Ali said, though doctors have told him he was lucky. Police reviewed security video and identified a suspect. Later that day, Kamloops RCMP contacted Vancouver Police after taking into custody, in an unrelated matter, a man matching the suspect description.

Victor Sorensen-Avila, 32, is charged with aggravated assault and assault with a weapon. Police announced Monday, more than a week after the shooting, that he remains in custody in Kamloops awaiting a bail hearing.

Vancouver Police have not identified a motive and said nothing was taken from the store. Spokesperson Const. Darren Wong said the incident was disturbing given the area.

Ali has worked at the shop for two decades but says he does not feel safe returning. A GoFundMe campaign describes him as a familiar and beloved presence in the Mount Pleasant community, saying he has long been known for welcoming customers warmly and treating people with kindness and respect.